Pressure bar for cable spooling drums



March 21, 1961 Filed July 7, 1958 LE BUS, sR 2,976,017

PRESSURE BAR FOR CABLE SPOOLING DRUMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

FL. Le 8055/."

ATTORNEY March 21, 1961 F. L. LE BUS, SR 2,976,017

PRESSURE BAR FOR CABLE SPOOLING DRUMS Filed July 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iHlI HIHIIH INV EN TOR.

42 54 42 FL. A9505 5/.

55 BY 5 ATTORNEY PRESSURE BAR FOR CABLE SPOOLING DRUMS Franklin L. Le Bus, Sn, Longview, Tex., assignor to Le Bfilis Royalty Company, Longview, Tex., a partner- P Filed July 7, 1958, Ser. No. 746,988

4 Claims. (Cl. 254-190) This invention relates to improvements in cable spooling devices, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a pressure bar adapted for utilization with a cable spooling drum, winch, or the like, to maintain a pressure on the line or cable wound thereon for facil-. itating the cable spooling operation.

In the spooling of a cable or line onto a winch, hoist drum, or the like, the cable or line being spooled is frequently under a constant tension in order that the line may be tightly wound or coiled around the drum core. The tension on the line maintains the line tightly Wrapped on the drum at all times. When the tension on the line is released for any reason, the tightly coiled line tends to unwrap from the drum in a spring-like action to provide a bird cage effect around the drum. It will be apparent that the line may kink or become badly entangled with itself. line usually causes a distorted effect in the winding of the line, whereby the control of the spooling operation is completely lost. There are many devices available today for holding the line coiled snugly on the drum, such asthe line holder disclosed in the G. R. Hunt Patent No. 2,625,373, issued on January 13, 1953, and entitled Line Holder for Winches. However, the present invention contemplates an improved pressure bar device having several advantages over these structures.

The present invention provides a novel pressure bar for maintaining a line tightly coiled around a hoist drum at all times, regardless of whether or not the tension in the line is released. The novel pressure bar is provided with a swivel connection whereby the line or cable engaging roller member may be angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the spooling drum during the spooling operation. This canted position of the roller member maintains or concentrates the greatest pressure against the last wrap of the line on the drum. It will be apparent that the application of a concentrated pressure against the last Wrap of the line being spooled onto the drum will maintain the last wrap firmly coiled around the drum even when the tension on the line has been released. With the last wrap maintained firmly in position against the spooling drum, the previous wraps cannot uncoil therefrom. It is an important object of this invention to provide a pressure bar for utilization with spooling drums in order to facilitate the spooling ,of a cable or line thereon.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel pressure bar device that maintains a pressure engagement with the line wrapped on a spooling drum at all times, whether the line is being spooled or unspooled, or whether the drum is stationary.

Another object of this invention i to provide a novel line holding apparatus having cooperating rotating and States Patent O This accidental uncoiling of the for providing a concentration of pressure against the last wrap of the line on the spooling drum.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a pressure actuated line engagement device designed and constructed as a compact structure for facilitating the mounting or installation thereof on a hoist drum, or the like.

A still further object of this invention is to provide-a novel pressure bar for cable spooling that is simple and efficient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a line holding apparatus "embodying the invention, and depicted in conjunction with a spooling drum.-

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a cable spooling drum having the novel line holding device thereon.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the spooling drum and pressure bar device depicted in Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a top view of a spooling drum and line holding device thereon.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 10 indicates a cylindrical flanged hoist drum, or Winch, for receiving a cable or line 11 to be spooled thereon. The drum 10 is provided with a suitable power driving means 12 and a braking means 14 oppositely disposed therefrom for cooperation therewith in order to control the rotation of the drum 10, as is well known. The drum 10 is suitably secured to a drive shaft 15 which is journalled between a pair of oppositely disposed mounting bracket members 16 and 18. The drive shaft 15 is driven by the power means 12 in any well known manner for providing rotation to the drum 10. The bracket memvbers 16 and 18 are preferably suitably secured to or integral with a base member 20 which may be disposed in brackets 16 and 18 in a position spaced from and parallel to the longitudinal axis of-the drum 10 for receiving the line engaging mechanism, generally indicated at 24. The line engaging mechanism 24 is disposed between the drum flanges and comprises a plurality of spaced tubular roller members 26, 28 and 30 which may be constructed of any suitabletype material, such as rubber, neoprene, steel, bronze, fiber, or the like. The rollers 26, 28 and 30 are rotatably mounted on a central shaft member 32 by means of cooperating bushing sleeves 3 4, 36 and 38, respeotively, as is well known. It is preferable to utilize a plurality of snap ring members 40 at the opposite ends of each of the bushings 34, 36 and 38 in order to retain the bushings and rollers on the shaft 32 in a manner to limit the longitudinal travel thereof, as shown in Fig. 1. It will be apparent that the roller members 26, 28 and 30 are freely rotatable about the shaft 32.

A pair of supporting bracket members 42 are interposed between the rollers 26, 28 and 30 for retaining the roller in an engagement position with the line 11, as will be hereinafter set forth. The shaft 32 extends through the brackets 42 and is connected therewith by means of a suitable self-aligning roller bearing member 44. There are many types of self-aligning bearing members available today, any suitable type of which may be utilized. The self-aligning bearing member provides for a swivel action between the brackets 42 and the-shaft 32, thus permitting the shaft 32 to be disposed at an angular disposition with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drum at various times during the spooling operation. Thus, it will be apparent that the roller members 26, 28 and 30 may be maintained in an engagement with the line 11 as the line is being wrapped onto the drum 10, regardless of the number of wraps in the last layer of the line thereon. As shown in Fig. 1, two wraps of the last layer of the line 11 have been disposed around the drum. The last wrap 46 of the line 11 is in contact with the right hand roller member 30 (as seen in Fig. 1), and the angular disposition of the shaft 32 with respect to the drum it) maintains the left hand roller 26 in an engagement with the wraps of the line 11 of the previous layer on the drum.

The brackets 42 are provided with a line engagement member 48 having an arcuate surface 50 (Fig. 4) for contacting the line 11 during the spooling operation, as

will be hereinafter set forth. The line engagement members 48 are non-rotatable and are removably secured to the brackets 42 in any suitable manner, such as by a. plurality of bolt members 52. It will be apparent that the non-rotatable line engagement members 48 may be readily replaced in the event they become worn, or otherwise damaged. The brackets 42 are bolted, or the like, to a connecting link member 54 which is suitably secured to one end of a connecting rod member 56 of a power supply means 58.

The power means 58 may be of any suitable type to provide reciprocation of the connecting rod 56. The means depicted herein is a spring loaded means comprising a cylindrical housing 60 (Fig. 1) suitably secured to the bar member 22. The connecting rod 56 extends into the housing 60 through an aperture 62 in one end of the housing. A suitable sealing gasket 64 may be provided between the connecting rod 56 and the aperture 62, if desired, in the event that hydraulic fluid, or the like, is utilized for the reciprocation of the rod 56, as will be hereinafter set forth. The rod 56 is provided with an enlarged portion or piston head 66 at the lower end thereof as viewed in the drawings. A compression spring 68 is disposed in the housing 60 beneath the piston head 66 for constantly urging the piston 66 upwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus, the connecting rod 56 is constantly urged upward, or in a direction toward the drum 10. The brackets 42, are therefore, simultaneously urged in a direction toward the drum 10, thereby constantly maintaining the shaft 32 and roller members 24, 26 and 28 in a pressure engagement with the line 11 spooled on the drum 10.

It will be apparent that the power supply means 58 may be of any suitable type. The cylinder 60 may be provided with a suitable hydraulic fluid connection member 70 (Fig. 1) for providing hydraulic fiuid thereto in order to actuate the piston head 66. It is preferable, however, that both of the supply means 58 be of the same type. That is, both of the means 58 are preferably of the spring loaded type depicted herein, or both of the means 58 may be of a hydraulic or pneumatically actuated type. It is to be noted that the connection member 70 is not required if the spring loaded type of pressure means is utilized, and the connection member 70 is depicted in Fig. 1 only for purposes of illustration.

Operation When it is desired to spool the line 11 onto the drum 10, the drum is rotated by the shaft 15 in any well known manner. The line 11 will thus begin to wind around the drum in a plurality of wraps and a multiplicity of layers. As long as the line is maintained in tension, the line will tend to remain tightly coiled around the drum it). However, the instant that the tension on the line 11 is released, the line will quickly unwrap or uncoil from the drum. Normally, the last wrap, such as wrap 46 in Fig. 1, will loosen around the drum 1t) first, and the previous wraps will then also tend to loosen. This causes a bird cage effect around the drum, which is very undesirable.

in order to prevent this, the line holding mechanism 24 is disposed adjacent the outer periphery of the drum 10 in order to be in constant contact with the line 11 as it is spooled onto the drum, or unreeled therefrom. The brackets 4-2 are constantly urged in a direction toward the drum it) by the power force members 58, thus maintaining the rotatable rollers 26, 28 and 30 substantially adjacent the line 11 on the drum it As the line 11 is being spooled onto the drum It), the first few wraps, such as shown in Fig. 1, will cause the shaft 32 to be disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drum 10. However, the action of the pressure members 58 will urge the shaft 32 and the rotatable rollers 26, 28 and 30, and the stationary line engagement members 48 toward the line 11 on the drum. It will be apparent that the angular disposition of the shaft 32 will provide a concentration of line holding pressure on the last wrap 46. When the last wrap '46 is maintained securely on the drum, it is substantially impossible for the previous wraps to unwind therefrom. Thus, regardless of any releasing of the tension on the line 11, the line will be retained tightly coiled around the drum.

As the spooling operation is continued, the line 11 will continue to wind or wrap around the drum until the layer being wound thereon becomes greater than half the length of the drum. When this occurs, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the shaft 32 will be disposed substantially horizontally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drum 10. In this position, at least two of the rotatable rollers and at least one of the non-rotatable line engagement members will be in contact with the line 11 for securely retaining the line tightly coiled around the drum.

When the line holding mechanism 24 is being utilized with a line being wound around a drum in a helically wound path as shown in Fig. 5, it is preferable that the line engaging device 24 be utilized with the controlled spooling methods disclosed in applicants prior Patents Nos. 2,620,996, 2,708,080, 2,732,150 and 2,734,695, all of which relate to a balanced cable spooling.

During the repeated cable or line spooling operations, the non-rotating line engagement members 48 may become worn or otherwise damaged from the friction between the line 11 and the members 48. When this occurs, the members 48 may be quickly and easily replaced by removing the bolts 52. Thus, the useful life of the entire line engaging mechanism 24 may be greatly prolonged.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel line engaging mechanism for retaining a line tightly coiled around a hoisting drum, winch, or the like. The novel line engaging mechanism comprises a pressure bar apparatus which may be angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drum in order to provide a concentration of pressure against the last wrap of the line on the drum. This concentration of pressure assures that the last wrap of the line will be maintained tightly coiled on the drum regardless of whether or not the tension on the line is released. With the last wrap of the line held securely in place on the drum, it is substantially impossible for the previous wraps of the line thereon to become loosened. The pressure bar mainains the line tightly wrapped around the drum during both the spooling and the unspooling operation, as well as during times when the drum is stationary, or not rotating. The novel line engaging mechanism is simple and efficient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A line engaging mechanism for a hoisting drum having a line spooled thereon, and comprising a shaft mounted adjacent the drum, a plurality of roller members journalled on said shaft, a plurality of non-rotatable members interposed between the roller members in longitudinal alignment therewith, means for urging the roller members and non-rotatable members in a direction toward the drum and into a pressure engagement with the line, means providing for a canting action of the roller members during the various stages of the spooling operation for concentration of pressure adjacent the last wrap of the line on the drum.

2. A line engaging mechanism for a flanged drum having a line spooled thereon, and comprising a shaft mounted adjacent the drum between the flanges, a plurality of freely rotatable members journalled on the shaft, a plurality of non-rotatable members interposed between the rotatable members, means for urging the non-rotatable members and the shaft in a direction toward the drum to provide a pressure engagement between the rotatable members and the line, means cooperating between the non-rotatable members and the shaft to provide a variable angular disposition of the shaft with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drum, said variable angular dispositions of the shaft cooperating with the movement of the line during the spooling operation for maintaining the line tightly spooled on the drum.

3. A line engaging mechanism for a flanged drum having a line spooled thereon, and comprising a shaft mounted adjacent the drum between the flanges, a plurality of roller members freely journalled on the shaft, a plurality of non-rotatable members disposed on the shaft and interposed between the roller members, a power supply means for urging the non-rotatable members and the shaft in a direction toward the drum, said power supply means maintaining the roller members in a pressure engagement with the line, a swivel connection between the non-rotatable members and the shaft to provide a canting action of the shaft and roller members with respect to the axis of the drum during the spooling operation, said canting action providing for a concentration of pressure against the last wrap of the line during various stages of the spooling operation for maintaining the line tightly spooled around the drum.

4. A line engaging mechanism for a flanged drum having a line spooled thereon, and comprising a shaft mounted adjacent the drum between the flanges, a plurality of roller members j'ournalled on the shaft, a plurality of bracket members disposed on the shaft and interposed between the roller members, a non-rotatable line engaging member removably disposed on each of the bracket members, a power supply means for urging the non-rotatable members and the shaft in a direction toward the drum, said power supply means maintaining the roller members in a pressure engagement with the line, a swivel connection between the bracket and the shaft to provide a canting action for the shaft during the various stages of the spooling action to maintain the line tightly spooled on the drum.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,262,937 2,495,804 Berchtold Jan. 31, 1950 2,625,373 Hunt Jan. 13, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 692,826 Great Britain June 17, 1953 Holmes Nov. 18, 1941 

